2024 PhD Application Guideline of School of Future Design at Beijing Normal University

Fine Arts (130100)

Beijing Normal University(BNU) is a state-key university directly under the Ministry of Education with its main characteristics displayed in teacher education, educational science, and sciences and humanities. It is also a prominent institution in the “211 Project” and the “985 Project”. In 2017, BNU was listed in the World First Class Universities in China, and its 12 disciplines were selected for the second round of China’s World First Class Academic Discipline Plan in 2022, establishing its extraordinary position as one of the leaders in this initiative in China.

Disciplines of BNU stand at the forefront of the nation’s universities and it is one of the first 20 degree-granting institutions authorized for independent review. Its six disciplines are rated A+ in the fourth national assessment, namely education, psychology, Chinese language and literature, Chinese history, drama and film & television studies, and geography, ranking 6th among domestic universities. Additionally, two first-level disciplines are rated A, and seven are rated A-.

School of Future Design, based on the university’s “One University, Two Campuses” plan, actively participates in the national strategy of the Greater Bay Area. Leveraging the top-tier faculty from the “Double First-Class” university, it capitalizes on the strengths of BNU in disciplines such as psychology, education, and literature. The school has established an academic committee consisting of deans who were involved in founding renowned design schools in China. It has also appointed distinguished professors in arts and design around the globe. The school collaborates with well-known domestic and foreign enterprises and institutions, focusing on establishing a stronghold in southern China for the design industry and pioneering innovative development in the design sector.

Training Goals

The school aspires for its students to enhance their artistic aesthetics, develop design thinking, broaden their international perspectives, and acquire interdisciplinary knowledge in psychology, economics, and education through systematic learning. The school’s goal is to cultivate well-rounded, innovative talents with precise professional expertise, a forward-looking vision in their respective fields, comprehensive analytical abilities, and a scientific and humanistic mindset.

Admissions Plan

Requirements

Applicants should meet the requirements stated in Beijing Normal University Admissions Brochure for 2024 Academic Doctoral Programs (https://yz.bnu.edu.cn/detail/80949d38-0bc3-4d0b-ba49-4ae483583926).

Online Registration

Registration time: From November 10, 2023, 10:00 AM, to December 1, 2023, 22:00 PM (Beijing Time).

Registration is done online through the following website: https://yz.bnu.edu.cn/. The registration fee is CNY200 and should be paid online. Once paid, the fee is non-refundable.

Application Documents

Candidates must submit the following written materials to the Graduate Academic Affairs Office of the School of Future Design, postmarked before December 10, 2023 (date of mailing), in accordance with the requirements. The written materials must be consistent with the information uploaded in the online registration system. Materials include:

1. Registration Form (printed from the online registration system; ensure to upload a personal digital photo as required, sign to confirm each page of the printed registration form).

2. Personal Statement (download the blank form from the online registration system, fill it out with details about your academic research experiences, academic interests, achievements, motivation for applying, and career plans.) Be sure to submit a digital version in the online registration system.

3. Photocopies of language proficiency certificates for the chosen second language in application (e.g.CET-6, TEM-4, TEM-8, TOEFL, IELTS, etc.).

4. Representative works that demonstrate your academic level and research capabilities (including papers, research reports, patents, software, game development, publications, etc., originals or photocopies are acceptable). And original research achievements or high-level practical experience, which require proof of international or national awards, or written recommendations and evaluations from experts in the field. Applicants are required to simultaneously submit in the online registration system up to three of your own published representative academic papers or other relevant supporting materials.

5. Research plan for doctoral studies (including the research topics, knowledge background, innovation, research framework, research methods, main references, etc.). There is no fixed template, but the total word count should be around 5,000 words. Please submit a digital version in the online registration system.

6. At least two reference letters from associate professors (or equivalent positions) or higher-ranking experts in a field related to the applied discipline. (Download the blank reference letter form from the online registration system and have the reference experts fill it out. The letters must be sealed by the experts, and they should sign across the seal).

7. For those who have already graduated or obtained a master’s degree, you must provide a copy of your graduation certificate or master’s degree certificate. If your master’s degree was obtained overseas, you must provide a certificate of authentication from the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE). Additionally, you should include the full text of your master’s degree dissertation and the original postgraduate academic record. This transcript must be provided by the postgraduate training department of your master’s degree-granting institution and bear their official seal. Alternatively, you can make a photocopy of your transcript and have it stamped with an official seal by your institution’s archive department. Recent master’s degree graduates only need to submit the original postgraduate academic record, the abstract of your master’s dissertation, the table of contents, and the full text of the dissertation proposal. Applicants admitted to the program must obtain graduation certificate or master’s degree certificate before enrollment. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of admissions. Applicants with equivalent qualifications should provide photocopies of bachelor’s degree and graduation certificates and the original postgraduate academic record.

Note: Candidates must submit hard copies of personal materials in accordance with the above requirements while registering online, or preliminary review results will not be available. All hard-copy materials will not be returned.

Assessment and Admissions

The assessment process consists of two stages: preliminary selection and final assessment.

1. Preliminary Selection

The School of Future Design Preliminary Review Committee will evaluate the materials submitted by candidates, which include the research plan, research achievements, overall qualities, and relevant work and practical experiences.

The maximum score is 100 points. Candidates who score below 60 points will not proceed to the final assessment. Candidates who score 60 points or higher (including 60 points) will be ranked by score, and a certain percentage of top candidates will be selected to proceed to the final assessment.

The list of candidates selected for the final assessment will be announced on the official website of the Future Design School around December 25, 2023.

2. Final Assessment

The final assessment will take place in the middle to late March 2024 and the date will be specified in the list of interviewees. It will be comprehensive professional interview and cover professional knowledge, professional qualities, research potential, academic level, language skills, and innovative thinking and abilities, among others.

The maximum score for the interview is 100 points, and a score of 60 points or higher is considered passing. Candidates who do not pass the interview will not be admitted.

The final assessment results will be announced in the Notifications section on the school website within 5 working days after the conclusion of the interview.

3. Admissions

The final score of candidates is determined by the results of the final assessment. The graduate admissions team of the school will rank candidates in descending order according to their final total scores. The list of candidates to be admitted will be finalized by the school’s admissions team and then publicly announced.

Duration of Study and Degree Conferment

Admitted students will begin their studies in September 2024, and the program is designed to last for three years. Throughout the specified study duration, students must be engaged in full-time academic pursuits.

Upon the successful fulfillment of their academic obligations within the designated study period and meeting the graduation criteria, doctoral students will receive a post-graduate graduation certificate in Fine Arts. Those who meet the criteria for degree conferment will be granted a Doctorate degree in Fine Arts.

Tuition Fees, Scholarships and Grants

The tuition fee for doctoral students in Fine Arts is CNY10,000 per student per academic year, totaling CNY30,000 for the three-year program. The tuition fee should be paid in registration of first semester of each academic year.

Beijing Normal University offers various financial assistance programs, including basic grants, subsidies for “three-assistant” roles, and scholarships. For detailed information, please refer to the Beijing Normal University Postgraduate Student Scholarship Establishment Plan and related documents. Furthermore, the School of Future Design also offers academic achievement scholarships, special program scholarships, and rewards for students participating in overseas study and exchange programs at cooperating institutions.

Location and Accommodation

The course will take place at the Zhuhai Campus, and full-time students will be accommodated as per the university’s arrangements.

Contact Us

Address: A1-302 (Academic Affairs Office of the School of Future Design), Yuanbai Building, Beijing Normal University Zhuhai, No.18, Jinfeng Road, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, 519000, P.R.China

TEL: 0756-3683976 LIANG Xu

Delivery Instructions: When sending any documents, please choose SF Express or China Post to ensure safe and reliable delivery.

Links：

BNU Graduate Admissions: https://yz.bnu.edu.cn/

BNU School of Future Design: https://design.bnu.edu.cn/